Michigan Engineering Newsletter

February 2020

2020 MDOT/ACEC Partnering Workshop

Held February 6 at the Lansing Center

The MDOT ACEC Partnering Workshop continues to grow, setting record attendance year after year. With over 650 registrants, the 2020 Workshop was no exception.

MDOT Director Paul Ajegba, PE, spoke at the opening session. The rest of the morning was filled with 24 concurrent breakout sessions. The afternoon General Session keynote was Dan Oblinger, a hostage negotiator, who spoke on the Art of Negotiations for Design Professionals. A popular feature of this year's event was the inclusion of the Innovative Technology Room as one of four afternoon roundtables.

For more program details, including sponsors and additional photos, visit the ACEC/M website.

MDOT/ACEC Partnership Charter Renewed

On February 6, 2020, during the Opening Session of the MDOT ACEC Partnering Workshop, MDOT Director Paul Ajegba, PE, and ACEC/MI President Steve Gravlin, PE, PS, ceremoniously signed the 2019 MDOT ACEC Partnership Charter.

This charter replaces the MDOT ACEC/MI Consultant Partnership Charter of 2013 and, in doing so, expresses a renewed commitment to continuous improvement, teaming and measurement to consistently provide the highest quality products and services for the State of Michigan. For more details, click here.

M DOT/ACEC Partnering Award

Presented to Tetra Tech

L to R: Tony Kratofil, PE, Ken Mazurek, PE, Ana Bickley, PE, Justin Voss PE,
Jason Pittman, PE, Jayson Nault, PE, Ronald Brenke, PE

On February 6, 2020, the 7th Annual MDOT/ACEC Partnership Charter Award was presented for the partnering efforts on the M-60 Reconstruction Project in Spring Arbor. The award was presented by MDOT's Chief Operations Officer Tony Kratofil, PE, to ACEC member firm Tetra Tech (Jayson Nault) and to the MDOT University Region (Jason Pittman, Jackson TSC).

AESLC Legislative Day

March 17

The Architects-Engineers-Surveyors Legislative Committee (AESLC) will be holding their annual "Lobby Day" on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

ACEC, AIA, MSPE and MSPS are collaborating to bring their members to Lansing to meet with legislators and educate them on issues important to the professions.

Past Lobby Days have been extremely successful by helping legislators understand the importance of properly funding infrastructure improvements and creating a business-friendly environment in Michigan for practicing engineers, architects and surveyors.

Please plan to attend and bring a few others as we want to demonstrate the strength of our industry in Michigan. Education sessions will also be offered throughout the day for those needing continuing education credits. Legislators will listen to their constituents, so it is important that you meet with your Representative and Senator and make your voice heard.

You also have the opportunity to sponsor the luncheon which will be held at the Capitol Building.

Detailed information and the registration form are available on the ACEC/M website.

Michigan Infrastructure Conference

May 12, 2020 - Radisson Hotel, Kalamazoo

The Michigan Infrastructure Conference will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at the Radisson Hotel in Kalamazoo. This growing event is hosted by ACEC/Michigan and the ASCE Michigan Section and this year's theme is Infrastructure Innovation for Improved Livability.

The conference planning committee is currently accepting presentation submittals for the educational breakout sessions. Share your special knowledge and expertise by presenting at this event which will include a broad audience of state/local officials, owner's representatives, A/E/C firms and more. With limited funding, the industry must find innovative ways to rebuild Michigan's infrastructure. Nine different one hour breakout sessions will be offered during the conference - and your presentation could be one of them!

Categories for presentations include:

Innovative infrastructure solutions(examples: transportation, power, fiber/telecom, water/sewer, etc.)
Sustainability/Resiliency/Environmental
Infrastructure studies and Asset Management
Creative infrastructure leadership and partnerships resulting in successful projects
Implementation of new techniques and technologies in design and construction

Presentations are due to ACEC/Michigan by March 20, 2020. Click here for a submission form with guidelines. Don't miss your chance to network with future clients and showcase your firm's talent and abilities - submit today!

Registration information will be available on the website www.acecmi.org at the end of March.

ASCE Michigan Section Award Nominations

Deadline is April 1, 2020

The ASCE Michigan Section will present project and individual awards during the Michigan Infrastructure Conference on May 12, 2020, at the Radisson in Kalamazoo. Project awards will include the Historic Engineering Landmark, Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement, and Quality of Life. Individual awards consist of Franklin D. Meyers Civil Engineer of the Year and Young Civil Engineer of the Year. All award submittals are due by April 1st.

Click here to download the nomination forms and for more detailed information.

ACEC Young Professional of the Year Award

Nominations due May 1, 2020

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 ACEC Young Professional of the Year Program. The Young Professional of the Year Award strives to promote the accomplishments of young engineers by highlighting their engineering contributions and the resulting impact on society. The campaign is designed to enhance and improve the image of engineering by recognizing young, diverse and talented engineers, thereby portraying engineering as an exciting profession open to everyone.

Each state organization is allowed to submit a maximum of two (2) nominees to ACEC National for award consideration. Guidelines and the nomination form are available on the ACEC website.

The major elements of the program include but are not limited to:

Nominees must be submitted by state organizations only (in this case, ACEC of Michigan). No nominations will be accepted directly from member firms.
No more than two nominations shall be submitted from each state organization.
Nominees shall be engineers 35 years of age or younger as of December 31, 2019.
Nominees shall be registered Professional Engineers.
Two nomination supporting statements are required - one from the nominee and a second from the nominee's employer/firm.

Nominations are due electronically to the ACEC/Michigan office by April 17, 2020. The 2020 national winners will be recognized during the Fall Conference in San Diego.

ASCE Michigan Section Scholarships

Application Deadline is Memorial Day 2020

The Michigan Section of the ASCE encourages the advancement of the Civil Engineering profession by qualified and interested students. To that end, the ASCE Michigan Section offers financial support through two scholarships. These scholarships have been endowed through the efforts and generosity of individual Civil Engineers and leading Civil Engineering companies throughout Michigan.

Mackinac Scholarship

Named in honor of Michigan's #1 Civil Engineering Project of the 20th Century by the ASCE Michigan Section membership in December 1999, the Mackinac Scholarship is intended to recognize a premier Civil Engineering student from Michigan. The award will be presented annually, and will consist of a two-year grant of $5,000 each year (totaling $10,000 over a two-year period) to a student entering his or her junior year at an ABET-accredited Civil Engineering program. The award considers merit, personal initiative, and financial need and encourages both participation in a student chapter of ASCE and contributions to the advancement of student engineering.

Zuidema Scholarship

Named in honor of an outstanding Past-President of the Michigan Section and the Western Michigan Branch of ASCE, the Marvin L. Zuidema Scholarship Award is presented annually to a student member of ASCE who has made a contribution to the advancement of student engineering activities. This award will consist of a one-time grant of $1,500, and considers academic performance as an indication of preparation for a future career in Civil Engineering. The Zuidema scholarship is available to either a junior or senior in an ABET-accredited Civil Engineering program.

Click here to access more detailed information and the application itself. Applications are due by Memorial Day.

Members in the News

ACEC Firm Leaders Receive MSU Alumni Awards

Awards:

Each year, Michigan State University honors some of its most accomplished alumni. Award recipients are selected for their professional contributions, public service, and personal accomplishments that reflect positively on MSU and the College of Engineering.

Congratulations to Larry J. Fleis, PE, Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, and to James Susan, PE, Fishbeck, who were each selected to receive this award!

Larry Fleis (right) receives the 2019 Alumni Awar d

James Susan (right) receives the 2018 Alumni Award

Anniversaries:

Congratulations to the following firms who are celebrating significant anniversaries this year!

Beam, Longest & Neff - 50 years

Do you have news you would like to share? Email kvanzee@acecmi.org.

ACEC/Michigan Member Benefit

Did you know the ACEC/M website has a job board?

EMPLOYERS: Is your company looking for good, local employees? Develop your workforce with us! ACEC/M members may post jobs at NO CHARGE. Non-members can post for a small fee. We invite you to see how easy it is to post jobs online today!

JOB SEEKERS: Looking for a new job? A better job? Join the workforce in the area!

The ACEC/M Job Board is the right place for what you need to know about available jobs, our fantastic local employers, and our great community!